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Hey there, friends! If you're feeling like life is throwing you too much to handle, you're not alone. Feeling overwhelmed is a common experience, but it doesn't have to control you. As someone who's struggled with the 'overwhelmed realm', I'm excited to share some tips and tricks that have helped me along the way.
Did you know that the feeling of overwhelm is actually linked to our amygdala, the part of our brain responsible for processing emotions? That's right - even if we're not in physical danger, our amygdala can signal a "fight or flight" response when we're faced with too much stress. That's why it's important to help our amygdala communicate better with our frontal cortex - the part of our brain responsible for decision-making and problem-solving.
One way to do this is to try 'naming' the thing that's causing you stress out loud. This may sound silly, but it can actually help move the emotions from your amygdala to your prefrontal cortex, where you can start to problem-solve and take action. For example, if you're feeling overwhelmed by a big work project, you might say out loud, "I'm feeling overwhelmed by this work project."
Another powerful tool to manage overwhelm is community. It's easy to isolate ourselves when we're feeling stressed, but reaching out to a friend can help stimulate the "naming" process and even relieve some of the emotional weight. Have you ever noticed how much better you feel after talking to someone who listens? That's because we're connecting the dots for our brain's "help desk" in the prefrontal cortex to kick in.
Remember, managing overwhelm is all about taking small steps and being kind to yourself. It's okay to take breaks, ask for help, and prioritize your mental health. And hey, if you're really struggling, don't forget about the amazing resources available to you - like the Goal Smasher worksheets, my blog, podcast, and newsletter. They're all completely free, and if you ever need help, just shoot me a message. We're all in this together!
Talk soon,
Audrey
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